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RUSI in the News September 2011

RUSI News, 9 Nov 2011

Citations of RUSI experts, analysis and events in the global media from September 2011

Burhanuddin Rabbani

On 20 September 2011 Burhanuddin Rabbani was murdered by a suicide bomber disguised as a Taliban representative. Rabbani, the former President of Afghanistan from 1992 to 1996, was the chairman of the High Peace Council, a body responsible for peace talks and possible reconciliation with the Taliban. The assassination of a key political figure in Afghanistan led some to question whether the country would descend into a new civil-war. Our experts were on hand to provide up-to-date analysis.

Libya

Throughout September the forces of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) continued fighting Colonel Qadhafi loyalists. After the fall of Tripoli in August, the strongholds of Sirte and Bani Walid became key battlegrounds. As it had prior to Qadhafi's fall, NATO provided NTC forces with valuable air assets to continue their fight. RUSI provided in depth analysis by publishing an Interim Libya Campaign Report while RUSI experts continued to inform the media.

Bahrain Elections

At the end of September Bahrain held by-elections to fill the parliamentary seats that had been resigned after security forces killed pro-democracy demonstrators in February. It was reported that less than 1 in 5 Bahrainis actually voted in the by-election. In the same month the Bahraini government continued to punish those that were allegedly involved in the February protests, sentencing some to death while others received long jail sentences. As the election was held and its aftermath digested, RUSI gave the media expert analysis.

Defence Cuts

This month saw job cuts in both the armed forces and the defence industry. On 25 September BAE Systems, Europe's biggest defence contractor, announced that 3,000 people were expected to lose their jobs. Less than a week later the Ministry of Defence announced that over 1,000 Royal Navy personnel were to be made redundant. During this time RUSI experts gave their opinions on the effects of BAE and Navy job cuts. Professor Malcolm Chalmers also added to the media debate with his Briefing Paper Looking into the Black Hole, in which he addressed the MoD 'funding-gap'.